Big Blue Bee

The University of Kentucky College of Education is the host of the Big Blue Bee, serving schools and homeschools in the Central Kentucky region since 2023. This partnership with Scripps National Spelling Bee helps to foster a love of language and learning, spotlighting the remarkable talent of our Central Kentucky region and its youth.

Schools who participate each year will host classroom and school spelling bees during the fall semester, and then send one school champion to compete in the regional Big Blue Bee in the spring. The winner of the Big Blue Bee gets a sponsored trip to Bee Week in Washington D.C. for a chance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee with peers from all over the world. This year’s Big Blue Bee will take place on Saturday, February 28th at the University of Kentucky. 

This opportunity is available for students in 1st through 8th grade in the following Central Kentucky counties: Adiar, Anderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Boyle, Breathitt, Casey, Clark, Clay, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jackson, Jessamine, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Scott, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, and Woodford.

Resources including word lists, rules, judging guides, and more are available for enrolled schools and homeschools via the Scripps educator portal. 

1. You must be a public, private, or home school that serves 1st through 8th grade students in the Central Kentucky region to enroll.
2. Choose an adult to coordinate your school spelling bees— this can be a teacher, administrator, or parent/guardian.
3. Starting on August 19th, 2025, visit www.spellingbee.com and enroll your school or homeschool as a Scripps school. The enrollment fee is $199 per school. 
4. Once enrolled, your school coordinator will get access to the Scripps Educator portal, with information and resources on how to administer classroom and school bees.
5. Organize and hold your classroom and school spelling bees before January 15th, 2025.
6. Report your school champion on the Scripps Educator portal by Feb 1st, so we know who will be representing your school and competing at the regional Big Blue Bee.
7. Attend the Big Blue Bee on February 28th, 2026 and cheer for your school champion as they compete for a chance to go to Scripps National Bee in D.C.   

Attend an upcoming Big Blue Bee Info Session: 

• Thursday, August 28th, 4:30pm ET - 5:15pm ET. Register here: https://uky.zoom.us/meeting/register/wKYQk9XfS7SJQCGX1tR3uw
• Thursday, September 11th, 4:30pm-5:15pm ET. Register here: https://uky.zoom.us/meeting/register/aUKvDmlbR2SqXU_r3R7Rmw 

**Please note, you only need to attend ONE info session as the information will repeat. **

To contact the Big Blue Bee Director, please email Mariama Lockington (mariama.lockington@uky.edu) or call (859) 257-4038.